November 14, 2022
As control of Congress hangs in the balance, NKF is already looking forward to continuing to build bi-partisan support for our legislative and regulatory agenda that promotes better access, coordination, and quality of kidney care.
Were kidney health supporters elected?
We are pleased that many supporters of kidney health were reelected.
These supporters include:
- Reps. Michael Burgess (R-TX-26)
- Gwen Moore (D-WI-4)
- Jerry Nadler (D-NY-10)
- Jason Smith (R-MO-4)
- Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL-23)
There will also be many new faces in the 118th Congress whom our Voices for Kidney Health advocates will help educate on the importance of supporting kidney policy priorities.
See which lawmakers have supported the kidney community’s policy priorities.
Preparing a bipartisan agenda on behalf of the kidney community
Prior to the election, House Republicans released a roadmap for their health policy priorities through the Healthy Future Task Force.
The Task Force’s goals include:
- Pursuing policies to modernize and personalize America’s health care system.
- Accelerating innovative treatments.
- Ensuring pandemic preparedness and supply-chain security, among other priorities.
To that end, NKF has been actively communicating with Task Force Members and will be working to find new opportunities to collaborate on our priorities.
NKF’s priorities for the 118th Congress include:
- Improving access to home dialysis.
- Investing in early Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) detection and treatment.
- Increasing research into innovative therapies.
- Centering patients in their care conversations.
As new Senators and Representatives are assigned to key congressional committees that are particularly impactful on kidney policy, NKF staff and Voices advocates will reach out to educate them on our priorities.
Learn more about Voices for Kidney Health’s priorities.
Kidney policies at the state and local levels
Kidney policy priorities exist beyond the federal level. State and local races are equally important as these public leaders make key investment decisions—about health infrastructure, education, and other areas that impact kidney health. See how your state measures up on kidney policy.
NKF will push state and local lawmakers to continue or begin:
- Supporting policies that protect living donors.
- Incentivizing living organ donation.
- Ensuring donor leave for private and state employees.
NKF has been a pioneer in passing the Living Donor Protection Act in 28 states and looks forward to continuing to promote kidney health priorities at the state level in 2023.
More big victories like these are possible with your voice. Take action to help support new kidney policies in the new year.
What’s next?
Stay tuned for more information about NKF’s plans for the 118th Congress and our larger federal and state policy agenda. To receive the latest updates, become a Voices for Kidney Health advocate.
